GOLF/BAY HILL INVITATIONAL:SPENCER LEVIN leads the Arnold Palmer Invitational after a bogey-free round yesterday.

Three birdies on the front nine by the American were followed by another three after the turn at a sun-blessed Bay Hill course in Florida.

Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan are a further three shots back after the pair shot three-under-par rounds of 69, although Fowler was disappointed to bogey his final two holes.

The 22-year-old Fowler, playing the back nine first, eagled the par-five 16th before missing key putts at the end. “I thought I hit two really good par putts but they just didn’t want to go in,” Fowler, one of the rising talents on the PGA Tour, said.

“But I felt that today was some of the best I’ve struck it all year – I was actually hitting fairways and getting on the green. Those putts slipped by, but it could have been a really good round versus just a good starting round.”

US Open champion Graeme McDowell had a dreadful round, shooting an eight-over-par 80.

A triple bogey on the par-five sixth, his 15th, was the worst moment in a day to forget for the 31-year-old two weeks ahead of the US Masters.

“I haven’t been very happy with my game for about four weeks,” the Portrush golfer said.

“This may be the wake-up call I need, you know? So it’s a good thing really, a reality check for me.”

Tiger Woods birdied three holes, but dropped shots on the third, ninth, 14th and the last to finish on one over for the day.